Pipe vise having chain tightenable by torque exerted on a workpiece



JVA. PETERSON ETAL PIPE VISE HAVING CHAIN TIGHTENABLE BY Sept. 15, 1959 2,903,930

TORQUE EXERTED ON A WORKPIECE Flled Feb 12, 1957 M 5 m m W 5 H #13 w J United States Patent PIPE VISE HAVING CHAIN TIGHTENABLE BY TORQUE EXERTED ON A WORKPIECE Joseph Arvid Peterson and Carl E. Olsen, Houston, Tex.

Application February 12, 1957, Serial No. 639,7 16

'11 Claims. (Cl. til- 19) The present invention relates .to vises and particularly to vises for bars or pipes utilizing a tension member such as a chain for applying the tightening forces.

So-called chain-type vises in the past have normally been constructed so that once the work object is clamped or secured therein, no relative movements between any of the parts of the vise were permitted. Such vises have therefore 'relied entirely on the initial tightening of the chain aroundthe work object to prevent undesirable slippage of the Work object during use. These vises have oftentimes proven unsatisfactory inasmuch as the action of external forces or torques applied to the work object tends to loosen the grip of the vise on the work object. -Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved vise utilizing a chain or other tension member particularly adapted to tighten its grip on the work object when external torques are applied to the work object.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel chain-type vise, greatly facilitating the operations of work loading and unloading.

. A further object is to provide an inexpensive and durable chain-type vise including novel structure for enhancing the tightening grip of the chain on the work object during use.

A still further object resides in the provision of a vise, of the character under consideration, adapted to be conveniently adjusted for work objects of various sizes and adapted to desirably grip objects of small diameters.

An additional object is to provide a novel arrangement for retaining a work-engaging insert or bit in a jaw of a gripping device or the like.

. Further objects and advantages'of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The novel features of the inventionmay be best made clear from the following description and accompanying drawings in which: V a

Figure l is a front elevation of a vise ofthe invention, shown partly in vertical section generally along the line 1- -1,of Figure 2;

, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the vise of Figure 1,

partly cut away; 7 i p Figure 3 is a top plan iew of the vise; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the base of the vise; Figure 5 is an elevation of another part ofthe vise;

. Figure 6 is a view of a latching device for the vise.

of Figure ltaken in the general direction of the adjacent arrow and with certain parts thereof omitted for.con-

The base 1 may-include apertured corner portions 24 a .part of the latching force diagram corresponding work object 24).

Patented Sept. 15, 1959 facilitating the attachment or mounting of the vise onto a work bench or the like by means of bolts (not shown).

The invention contemplates a novel arrangement of the cradle 2 on the base 1 and a novel locking arrangement for retaining the tension member 14 in gripping engagement with a work object 20 in the cradle 2 whereby the cradle will be free to pivot in one direction under the action of an external torque applied to the work object 20 so that the grip of the tension member 14 on the work object 20 will be tightened. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base 1 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced stanchions or upright portions 26 (Figures 2, 4) integral with the bottom portion of the base 1; while the cradle 2 is provided with depending ears or lobes 28 (Figures 2 and 5) adapted to be en- The ears 28 of the cradle 2 preferably are formed at the lower portion of a pair of spaced plates 30 joined together by a web 32 (Figure 5) and being formed with jaw portions 36 at their upper ends arranged in V shapedefining a trough-like region for the reception of the Inserts 4 are mounted in each of the jaws 36 as will be more fully explained hereinbelow. The cars '28 preferably are disposed eccentrically on plates 30 with respect to the center of gravity of the cradle 2 whereby the weight of the cradle will continu ously urge it to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. To retain the cradle in a stable, upright position, the rear or right-hand portions of each of the normally be urged into a position wherein the surfaces 22, 38 engage each other so' that the cradle will normally 7 be disposed in a stable, upright position as seen in Figure l. The cradle 2 includes means adjacent the web 32 for engagement with an end of the tension member 14, 'this means preferably being in the form of a horizontal slot formed in a somewhat curved web 21 joined substan' tially perpendicularly to the web 32 (Figures 1, 3).

The tension member 14 may be in the form of 'a link I in the form of a bolt 12 pivoted to the end of the chain,

adapted to extend through slotted web 21, and having a nut 13 threaded thereon for tightening against the bottom of this web. The upper surface of this nut-as;

well as the engaged surface of the slotted web may he of complementarily curved configuration, such as spherically curved, facilitating desired tightening actionj A circular knurled surface and spaced radial holes extend ing inwardly therefrom may be formed on the nut 13, as shown, for facilitating rotation thereof. 15

Cooperating with the nut 1.3 and web 21 to retain the chain 14 in its work-object-gripping position, a releasable latch is disposed on the opposite side of the. axis of work object 20 from the nut 13 and preferably in. cludes a dog 6 journaled or pivoted on the bolt 3 and in-; cluding a nose-like protuberance 40 complementary curvature to waist portions 42 of each chain link of thetension member 14 for engagement therewith. Spaced beneath the dog 6 is a transversely extending cylindrical member 5 mounted in stationary position adjacent the bottom of base 1 between the stanchions 26 and-als"o-of=- 3 similar curvature to the waist portions 42 of the chain links.

To facilitate proper disposition of the chain 14 in position around the work object 20, the end thereof opposite the nut 13 may be provided with a ring-like fingergrip portion 18 connected to the adjacent end of the chain by a pivot pin 19, as shown. The pin 19 may extend a sufiicient distance laterally from the chain to prevent the chain from slipping out of the vise. Once the chain is in this position, as illustrated in Figure 1, it extends between the dog 6 and cylindrical member 5, and the nose-like protuberance 40 of the dog is disposed in the waist portion 42 on one side of an adjacent chain link While the cylindrical member 5 is disposed in the opposite waist portion of this link. In this position, the chain will be securely locked against any loosening movement thereof with respect to the work object 14, and to further increase the gripping action of the chain, the nut 13 may be engaged by a suitable tool and screwed into tight engagement with the web 21.

The dog 6 may be retained in general locking position by means of a latch or lock piece 8 pivoted thereto and spring-urged outwardly thereof into engagement with a transverse pin extending between the stanchions 26, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. This latch 8 may include upper and lower curved locking surfaces, as shown, for engaging this pin 10 to retain the dog 6 respectively in locked or unlocked position, as indicated by the solid and dotted line positions thereof in Figure 1.

The nose-like protuberance 40 of the dog 6 is formed at the lower portion of the dog and another protuberance 44 is formed at the upper end of the dog for a purpose to be apparent as the description proceeds. A finger-grip portion 7 is provided on the dog 6 and the latch 8 preferably is pivoted by a pin 9 in a hole in the dog as seen in Figures 1 and 6. A spring 11 extends between the finger-grip portion 7 and latch 8 to continuously urge the latch toward the pin 10 to securely retain the latch and dog in locked position.

With all of the parts in operative position, it will be seen that the upper projection 44 on the dog 6 is disposed adjacent the chain 14, whereby pivotal movement of the cradle 2 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, will effect an increase of the tension in the chain 14 by reason of the stationary projection 44 engaging the chain 14 to resist movement thereof. Such counterclockwise pivoting of the cradle with respect to the base 1 may be occasioned during use by the application of a counterclockwise torque or moment on the work object 20, and should this occur, it will be evident that the gripping action of the chain 14 will actually be increased.

Pivotal movement of the cradle 2 in a counterclockwise direction from its stable, upright position may be limited by the provision of a transverse portion 46 extending between the plates 30 of the cradle 2 and adapted to abuttingly engage the upper left-hand portion of the stanchions 26 (as viewed in Figure 1) after the cradle 2 has pivoted or swung through a predetermined angle, such as that indicated by the letter A.

As illustrated schematically in Figure 8, a torque M applied to the work object 20 creates a self-tightening effect which may be expressed by the following equations:

Thus, with decreasing l (perpendicular distance between chain center line and axis of pivot bolt 3, see Figure 1 also) the tension P in the chain will increase. It will be seen that the position and shape and disposition of the dog 6 are such that the distance I for smaller diameter pipes is smaller than for bigger diameters. Therefore, the tightening effect will be advantageously greater for smaller pipes than for larger pipes. Movement of the cradle in a clockwise direction in Figure 1 due to clockwise torques applied to the work object 20 will be effectively resisted by the stop surfaces 22, 38 without impairing the gripping effect of chain 14.

The dog 6 and latch 8 arrangement will facilitate loading and unloading operations of the vise by virtue of their simple operation. It will be apparent that all that is necessary to adapt the vise for use with smaller or larger work objects is to loosen the nut 13, release the latch S and move the dog 6 to its inoperative position whereupon the finger grip portion of the chain may be utilized to increase or decrease the effective diameter defined by the chain 14 in the region of the cradle 2.

While the surface of the dog 6 adjacent the chain 14 has been shown to be generally straight, between protuberances 40, 44 it will be evident that such surface may be convex or otherwise curved as desired.

Understandably, the V-shaped jaws 36 of the cradle 2 are adapted to receive bars or pipes of circular, polygonal, and other cross-sectional configuration and the insert 4 in each jaw includes a roughened or serrated outer surface. These jaw inserts preferably are removably mounted in the jaws 36. An exemplary construction for removably mounting these inserts 4 (see Figure l) includes a dovetail slot 50 formed in the upper surface of each jaw 36 and a cooperating dovetail configuration on the jaw inserts 4 whereby they may be slidably mounted in the slots 50 and retained therein against movement in a direction normal to the upper surface of the respective jaws as well as in a rotary or twisting direction parallel to the jaw. A detent plunger or pin 15 is slidably mounted in a blind hole formed in each jaw 36 perpendicularly to the outer jaw surface and the pin is biased axially outwardly of this hole by a spring 16, as shown, to be disposed partly in an aligned hole of the jaw insert 4, the latter hole extending only partially throughout the thickness of the insert. By virtue of this structure, the insert 4 will be prevented from movement in a direction parallel to the outer surface of the respective jaws 36. To facilitate disengagement of the pin 15 from the hole in the jaw insert 4, a smaller hole 17 may be formed in each insert communicating with the larger hole therein whereby a slender rigid object may be inserted therethrough to move the pin 15 against the action of the spring 16 so that the insert can be moved or slid out of its associated jaw slot 50. Suitable structure (not shown) will be provided for limiting outward axial movement of the pin 15 with respect of the jaw hole in. which it is mounted. Additionally, any suitable resilient biasing means other than spring 16 may be utilized.

It has been found that the vise of the invention satisfactorily grips work objects when torques are applied thereto in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 even though the tension member 14 may not be securely tightened. This is due to the self-tightening action previously explained. In ordinary use, the work objects will be arranged in the vise so that the predominantly applied torques will produce such self-tightening; although, by proper adjustment of nut 13, the chain 14 will satisfactorily grip work objects irrespective of the direction of torques applied thereto.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vise for work objects of circular or polygonal sectional configuration; a stationary base, a cradle pivotally mounted on said base for receiving a work object, a tension member extending around a work object in said cradle, means for locking said tension member in a tightened work-object-engaging position, means for holding said cradle in a stable first position and for preventing pivotal movement of said cradle only in a first direction from said first position, and means operative on pivotal movement of said cradle in the direction opposite to said first direction to increase the tension in said tension member.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for continuously urging said cradle to pivot in said first direction from said first position.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said cradle is pivoted eccentrically to said base so that the weight of said cradle continuously urges it to pivot in said first direction from said first position.

4. A vise for work objects of circular or polygonal sectional configuration, said vise including: a stationary base, a cradle pivotally mounted on said base and including a portion for receiving a work object, a chain eX- tending around a work object in the cradle, first releasable means tfor securing said chain to said cradle, second releasable means for securing said chain to said base in tightened engagement with such a work object, means for holding said cradle in a stable first position and for preventing pivotal movement of said cradle only in a first direction from said first position, and means operative on pivotal movement of said cradle in the opposite direction from said first position to increase the tension in said chain.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said cradle is pivoted eccentrically to said base so that the weight of said cradle urges it to pivot in said first direction from said first position.

6. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said second releasable means includes an abutment on said base and a pivoted dog adjacent said abutment and spaced therefrom, said tension member being disposed between said abutment and said dog, said dog being movable to a position frictionally locking said member against said abutment, and a latch for holding said dog in this position.

7. A vise for work objects of circular or polygonal sectional configuration, said vise including: a stationary base, a cradle having a portion for receiving a work object, means for eccentrically pivotally mounting said cradle to said base, means on said base for holding said cradle in a stable, upright first position and for preventing pivotal movement of said cradle from this first position only in a first direction from said first position, a chain extending around a work object in the cradle, first and second releasable means fixedly securing said chain to said cradle and to said base, respectively, in tight work-object-engaging position, and means associated with said second releasable means operative to increase the tension in said chain upon pivotal movement of said cradle away from said first position thereof in the direction opposite to said first direction.

8. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said second releasable means includes a dog pivoted on said base and engageable with said chain on one side of the axis of a work object in said cradle, and a latch operatively connected to said dog and said base for locking said dog in chain-engaging position.

9. The structure defined in claim 8 wherein the pivotal axis of said dog and said cradle coincide.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said means associated with said second releasable means includes a protuberance on said dog.

11. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said means for holding said cradle in said stable first position includes an abutment on said base, said cradle being continuously urged against and in engagement with said abutment when said cradle is in said first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,054,958 Amborn Mar. 4, 1913 1,075,434 Moon Oct, 14, 1913 1,188,789 Kass June 27, 1916 1,236,717 Kass Aug. 14, 1917 1,412,143 Steen et a1. Apr. 11, 1922 1,861,745 Kneeland June 7, 1932 2,394,709 Matter Feb. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 405,085 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1934 

